As Port Board members appointed to lead a local government agency, we are also Oakland residents, parents, siblings, and members of a broader community. Our hearts grieve over war and the loss of innocent life. We support a lasting ceasefire and condemn any acts of terrorism and genocide in Israel and Gaza, respectively.
Oakland San Francisco Bay Airport (OAK) serves as one of the West Coast’s busiest air cargo hubs, with over 1 billion pounds of air cargo passing through its facilities annually. Our airport is used for passenger travel to visit loved ones, business travel, and for shipment of gifts and commercial goods. We are saddened when we learn of shipments from OAK that could be used to cause harm. As is the case with all federally regulated public airports in the nation, OAK is legally required to accommodate federally authorized air traffic, including air cargo arranged by the U.S. government on private air cargo providers as well as passenger airlines that carry cargo in their baggage hold areas.
It has been reported that military components are being shipped by private air cargo operators throughout the United States, including out of OAK. One such report prepared by the Palestinian Youth Movement, the Arab Resource and Organizing Center, and the U.S. Palestinian Community Network details the shipment of military jet components by the federal Defense Logistics Agency from a facility in Northern California on air cargo flights from OAK to other US airports and ultimately transferring them to locations throughout the world, including Israel. The Port of Oakland has received many inquiries from our community regarding these reported cargo activities and what role the Port can play in determining whether specific items can leave our runways.
We’ve researched this issue, met with key stakeholders, and determined that we are strictly bound by federal law regarding our ability to limit or prohibit shipments through the airport. The Port of Oakland and its Board of Port Commissioners do not have the legal authority to determine which legally authorized items a carrier can transport nor to where it is destined, due to federal laws and FAA regulations that govern all airports in the United States.
As it concerns the export of certain military equipment by the federal government, we respect the passion and commitment that have prompted the demonstration of support for action on this issue. We must respectfully direct the focus of this action toward the federal policymakers that ultimately set foreign and defense policy for our nation. To that end, we strongly support the bill currently pending in Congress co-sponsored by Representative Lateefah Simon, H.R. 3565, the “Ban the Bombs Act.” The Port Board looks forward to the prompt consideration and passage of this bill and any similar federal legislation which could reduce the loss of human life and is committed to working with local leaders and groups on such federal advocacy efforts.
Questions should be directed to [email protected].